Month 36: Happy Third Birthday!

Our birthday theme was Pirates (read daily doses here)! This will be the last year I pick her party theme and we are going to give her a small allowance of fifty cents a week (she likes coin operated rides).

Three years. How can it be? I feel like I’ve documented and made note of every moment, treasured it, and squeezed it and yet I feel like I’m barely hanging on to the tail of a time comet.

Homemade Treasure Map invites

Itty Bitty is leaving her toddlerhood behind and moving towards childhood — what most USA parents call pre-school age. There are still glimpses of baby now and then in a Big Cry or sleepy plea for Mah-mees (nursing). We nurse every night before bed and it saddened me that I had to all but eliminate daytime nursing to rare occasions because of latch pain and the feelings of aversion unless I am engorged. I hope Itty Bitty remembers the comfort and not the sad denials.

Public toilets with children in mind have step stools to facilitate autonomy.

Itty Bitty has had no potty incidences this month, she requires no toilet insert or step stool, and most of the time she cleans herself and asks for assistance for a messy output. She’s used the little potty in an “Peemergency” once or twice, but looks quite ridiculous with her knees practically hitting her chin. Public toilets still require help as the toilets are set up quite high and are occasionally of questionable cleanliness. Itty Bitty also likes to cue her brother, though most often he gets too excited in her presence and won’t finish a pee!

There’s been a renewed resurgence in learning songs, role play with My Lttle Pony, interest in friends by name, and she loves her new play kitchen. We’ve spent more time on counting and numbers, crafts, reading, and art. Itty Bitty took time to learn her new age and work her fingers to make three (American folks don’t use the thumb to indicate three). She also knows her last name, address, her parents’ names, and her birth date (we add new personal info as she commits the others to memory). Itty Bitty still has trouble with personal boundaries, not understanding why others do not accept hugs or why others dislike physical play. We’ve also seen the growing territorial behavior with communal toys and disinterest in taking turns, but at the same time a slowly growing trend of cooperative play rather that “you do it this way not that way” play. Itty Bitty isalso learning that baby brother has a voice and is not afraid to scream and cry if she takes a toy away from him and “trades” don’t always appease.

It’s harder than it seems!

When her brother was born in February, Itty Bitty suddenly sprouted a halo of hair and she looks so toddler-like in those pictures, but now she has lankier limbs and her face has changed. At the beginning of summer Itty Bitty was a half inch or inch short of reaching tricycle pedals, and now at the end of the season she is just the right size. We haven’t tried her on the Radio Flyer Big Wheel yet, but she still might be a hair too short. We tend to buy her things older than recommended age, but you never know what they can do unless the opportunity is there.

Did I mention Itty Bitty’s non-stop conversational chatter and the repetition of phrases? Did I mention Itty Bitty’s non-stop conversational chatter and the repetition of phrases? Did I mention Itty Bitty’s non-stop conversational chatter and the repetition of phrases? Did I mention Itty Bitty’s non-stop conversational chatter and the repetition of phrases?

Oh and making unnecessary noise when I or her brother are trying to nap!

Happiness.

Happy Birthday Itty Bitty. May your adventurous, inquisitive, sociable, determined, odd-bird personality mature and thrive. When you are grown with your own Itty Bitty I hope you embrace her every mismatched ensemble, backwards shoe, inside out shirt, dirt smeared face, puzzle cookie offering, and cold nose, sticky lipped kiss. And may her 30lb self step on your toe every day.

Phrases of the Month:

I love my brudder. (I love my brother.)
The baby crying, give him you moolk. (The baby is crying, give him your milk!)
Is it my birthday?
But he likes it {baby peeking out of the square storage ottoman}, Momma, I pud him innit.

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About Laissez Faire

I am 41...42...43...44, married with two children, two cats, and a dog. Writing is my hobby, and learning and teaching my passions. Books! It used to be that I could devour several books a week when I had the time. I am usually too tired to stray awake these days with two kids. Currently my brain and energy levels have steered me to casual games, writing contests, and some inconsistent blogging.

Oh, how fun to read this as my girls are just a bit behind Itty Bitty (They are almost 2 yrs and 5 months). I can sort of see a little of what’s coming. 🙂

You may remember me from one of my own (raisingmytwins) posts when my girls were about 16 months and I was cueing and letting them practice with potties. We still have not been successful with what is now simply traditional “potty training” and I struggle to not be disheartened by this. My kids appear to be taking their time catching on to all the concepts surrounding pottying. It’s actually a little baffling to me that my examples and support have not been more impressive on them. 😉 I can’t help but feel I’ve missed something key, but I feel I cannot push. It’s difficult for me, and I hope to figure out my next steps soon.

I enjoyed your positive response to that earlier post, and subscribed here to see your own experiences. It’s been helpful. Thanks!

Hello! I do remember. I can’t believe it’s been that long. I is still kind of surreal! Happy Belated birthday to your duo. I think the last post I remember seeing lately was the Olsen twin one right? 🙂

Have you been to visit Oh Crap Potty Training at http://www.jamieglowacki.com/? You are in the realm now and I think she can really help get you over that hurdle.

Thanks for the link. I’ve read the whole book, and at least gotten to know where I went wrong. I’ve been at real PT for 2 weeks now, and it’s not really going well, but I’m determined. (I’m posting about it too.) Thanks again. –Janet

Ahhh, so cute! If we are twins separated at birth, I think so are our daughters! Mine will turn 3 in March, but there’s so many similarities! p.s. we do the counting with our thumb, the European way, even though everyone thinks she’s getting it wrong, it’s just easier for her chubby little hands!
by the way… have you done any posts on doing EC with a boy? Someone asked me, and I have no experience!

Sometimes I read your blog and think, “I swear I wrote that” It’s really creepy sometimes. Hah! I’ve always wanted to go to Australia too, ever since I was a little one. And yes, yes, I do have a blog about my son! I didn’t realize you didn’t know! http://pottytunities.wordpress.com